The stakes are high for the Bengals in Week 13. AJ McCarron should be a part of the redemption and fight to stay relevant.
There’s nothing worse than a Negative Nancy or even an extra Positive Polly. But, the truth is always somewhere in the middle. That being said, the Bengals need to avoid the same scenario of 2015. AJ McCarron needs to get some time under center. No, I’m not sticking pins in a voodoo doll. But, there has to be an insurance plan in place.
With the playoffs currently the thought process among Bengals faithful, every little bit helps.
Stupid things tend to happen when the Bengal and Steelers hook up. I hate to be the bearer of horrible memories, but it was a Week 14 brain cramp that caused a serious blow to the playoff dreams of Cincinnati faithful. Andy Dalton was having the best year of his career when….Yup. The thumb thing happened.
Any and every Bengals fan was devastated.
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Here’s the deal. When the Bengals play on Monday night, Bill Lazor needs to lobby for McCarron to get some snaps. It may sound like a bunch of nonsense, but real game action is what McCarron needs. And if the Bengals manage to whoop up on the Steelers, he needs to get prepared for a future call to arms. If the Bengals find the juice to stomp Pittsburgh, they’ll really need him to be ready.
McCarron finished the 2015 season with a 2-1 mark and was a meltdown away from propelling the Bengals to their first playoff win since the stone age.
Just see what he has
Even if the situation turns ugly and things go south for the Bengals on Monday, Marvin Lewis and Co need to find out what McCarron can really do. Since that mind-numbing playoff disaster, he hasn’t logged any significant time on the field.
Tossing him to the wolves–in this case, the Steelers–would help him adjust and serve as a resume on the run. No, I’m not pushing or a trade (that was already screwed up by the Browns). And I’m not a Dalton basher. But, McCarron isn’t likely to be in Bengals stripes next year.
Dalton has always gotten the deer-in-headlights look when he’s under the bright lights. Of course, the pressure can be grueling. So, if the Steelers look like they’re going to sacrifice Dalton to the football gods, McCarron should get a good look.
This isn’t a time for Lewis to go Sean McDermott and lose his mind. Andy is the franchise quarterback Mike Brown wants to field. Lazor is doing wonders with Dalton, since he took control of the offense. But, there’s nothing wrong with helping McCarron brush the rust off.